Serena Williams dances on the practice court

Friday, 01 January 2021 at 11:00

The 23-time Major champion Serena Williams is back on the practice court ahead of the new season, testing her game and showing dancing skills during the relaxed practice sessions.

Thanks to Aryna Sabalenka's one last push in Linz, Serena will finish the season outside the top-10 for the third time in the previous four years, staying on 16 year-end top-10 honors since the first one in 1999! The American failed to win a Major title for the third straight season, still standing on 23 crowns despite a great effort at the US Open.

Thus, Serena will have to chase that elusive 24th Major in 2021, winning the previous notable title at the Australian Open 2017 and finishing on the losing side in four final at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018 and 2019. Like many other players, Serena embraced a light schedule in 2020, suffering an early loss at the Australian Open and hoping for a better run at home in New York in September.

The veteran reached the semis for the 11th straight time at home Major, making a strong start against Victoria Azarenka before losing ground and ending her journey before the title match. Ready to give it a shot in her beloved Paris, Serena trained at Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France, seeking the first Roland Garros title in five years.

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The American won the first-round match before withdrawing with an Achilles injury ahead of the Tsvetlana Pironkova, missing another chance in the quest for the 24th Major title. The next opportunity should come in Melbourne in February, with Serena joining the field despite all the health measures and a two-week quarantine period.